“Are you sure?” Madame Jeanette knowingly looks deeper into Victor’s eyes. She knows her cards sparked something inside him but needs him to admit it. “Well, if that is all, my fee is twenty. But for you, my handsome birthday man, I’ll give you a discount of ten.”
Victor looks deeper into her eyes as she holds out her hand, waiting for payment.
Victor shakes his thoughts out of his head, “Sure, here.” He places the money into her hand. She winks with a sly smirk on her lips. “I guess I’m good, thank . . . thank you, Madame Jeanette.” Victor doesn’t quite know how to react. He knew how to interpret the cards, but for them to be so specific about his breakup?
As soon as he stands up, Madame Jeanette draws two more cards, the “Six of Swords” and “Eight of Swords.” Victor takes a long moment to look at the cards before he turns and walks out without a word. Confused by his reaction, his friends thank Madame Jeanette for her time. Lucas and Jon take a moment to look at Madame Jeanette. They remain silent as if they know what the other is saying. Lucas and Jon look at each other before taking their leave.
As they leave, Madame Jeanette leans back into her seat and takes a long drag from her pipe. “They’re gone.”
The mystery man walks out of the shadows. “So, what do you make of him?”
“I’m interested. I can see he knows a thing or two about the cards. That could help him find what is hiding inside.”
The man sits next to Madame Jeanette and hands her a neat glass of bourbon. “He seems to be . . . broken. Maybe lost.”
Madame Jeanette takes a puff from her pipe. “He just suffered a breakup. I’m not sure he’ll be ready at the moment. But I have a feeling that he’ll return to me.”
“Will he be alone?” the man asks.
Madame Jeanette takes a long puff from her pipe. She exhales and investigates the cloud of tobacco smoke. “I may be seeing him much sooner than we think.”
The man sits back in his chair, swirling the liquid in his glass. “Should we tell the others?”
“Not right now,chéri.” She takes a small drag from her pipe. “Let us wait until he returns.”
Chapter Four
Over a week has passed, and Victor is working with his friends Amber and Elliott on a flight to New York. Their coworker is lazy and complains about everything. While Amber and Elliott had to work in coach with the grumpy flight attendant, Victor works in the front as the lead flight attendant.
While Victor cleans up the galley after finishing the meal service, Amber comes up to help him. Amber grunts as she walks into the galley. “I swear to God, I can’t wait for this trip to be over already. I don’t know how much longer I can deal with her.” Amber says aggressively.
“You want me to tell her the wrong pick-up time for tomorrow?” Victor jokes.
Amber ponders Victor’s question a little too long. “I’m pretty sure she’s smarter than what she lets on. But she has been flying for 25-some-odd years.”
Elliott walks into the galley and closes the curtain behind him.“FUCK!”he groans softly enough so the passengers don’t hear him. “Are we there yet? I don’t think I can deal with that bitch in the back. I can’t even get around the galley because she’s got shit all over the place.”
“This is why I don’t cross the cabin line,” Victor smirks.
“That woman is getting on our last nerves,” Elliott continues. “I had to hold Amber back before we started to service.”
Amber nods, “Oh yeah, I was about to shake her like a British nanny just to get her to pay attention to what the hell she was doing back there. You should have seen the galley before we took off. She had the soda drawers and snacks everywhere.”
“I was about to punch her in the thyroid,” Elliott moans as he crosses his arms and leans against the counter.
Victor chuckles a little. “Don’t worry; we have another hour at the most. Just try your best to avoid going back there.”
Suddenly, they hear footsteps coming up the aisle, which weren’t coming from a passenger. These footsteps are a disgruntled woman going through menopause who has a sense of entitlement. She flings open the galley curtain, pushes her way into the galley where Victor and his friends are standing, and proceeds to open the carts while ignoring them.
“Can I help you find something, Cheryl?” Victor asks as politely as he can muster.
Cheryl huffs, “There’s no more food?”
Victor cocks his eyebrow at the spectacle in front of him. “Everyone ate. So, no, there isn’t anything left over.”
She gives a disgusted look as she huffs and puffs and leaves.
Amber has a look as if her eyes are about to pop out of her head, and she gestures with her hands, expressing her frustration. “This is what I’m talking about! How are we supposed to deal with her for one more day?”
